Sigh It seems that due to the episode order, Midnight’s going to get the action-y episodes. There was episode 3 with Berserker, Episode 5 with Rider, and soon episode 7. But hey, that’s getting ahead of ourselves, and this episode has plenty to offer.
First, the episode focuses on Shirou and Archer. Namely that they hate each other. Like…really hate each other.
S-Sure Shirou. You’re a novice mage, he’s a Heroic Spirit. You can take him… But seriously, they just really can’t get along, which puts the whole alliance thing on edge from the get-go. However, this scene isn’t just them trading smack talk, but a bit of insight into Archer’s character, and how he views Heroic Spirits and the Grail war. But first…first….
This. Ok…one thing that always bugs me is that sometimes, it feels the different stories in the Fate Universe have contradictory information. Here, Archer says most Heroic servants don’t choose to be called, but are forced to be summoned and work for Masters. Now…let’s do a head count of the previous Grail war.
Saber-Wanted the Grail
Lancer-Wanted to fight in the Grail war for his own reasons.
Archer-Wanted to fight in the Grail war for his ego.
Rider-Wanted the Grail
Caster-Wanted the Grail, but got sidetracked by crazy
Berserker-Wanted to fight in the grail for his own reasons.
Assassin-no motivation found, because the story never gave a shit about him.
Nearly all the Servants in the previous Grail War were there because they wanted to. So, either the rules are different, or Archer is lying big time. Ok…tangent over.
Archer says that, like he says, he has no interest in the Grail, and says Heroic spirits end up sacrificing everything for humanity.
He likewise says he has no goal for the Grail itself, because he achieved everything he wanted in life and died. Right…sure..that’s easily it….
The next section of the episode is Shirou with Saber, mostly him apologizing for worrying her and not including her with the alliance with Rin.
However, Shirou apologizes and it works out. He’s even gonna get sword training from Saber so that’s pretty cool.
However, we go from the pleasantness of Saber and Shirou to….Shinji. SHIIIIIIIINJIIIIIII. A character made to be hated…and succeeding beyond expectations on that task.
We basically find out, surprise surprise, he’d been the asshole master putting up the barrier and attacking his fellow students to get their mana. How does he answer to something to blatantly twisted and against the rules of the Grail war itself?
He basically tries to get an alliance with Shirou, but even Shirou’s got higher standards and intelligence than to work with a slime ball like Shinji.
By the way, for those wondering, Rin’s entire part of this episode can be summed up in one image.
You know, for a series based on the route where Shirou and Rin are supposed to hook up, so far they’ve had little chemistry. Possibly its due to his obliviousness and her tsundere-ness, but I’ve not gotten a lot of what will lead to a relationship. Shirou and Saber on the other hand…
They have a lot of chemistry, though it is very much in the realm of camaraderie. They understand each other, can work through problems, and show they can be a very good team. Maybe I’m just reading into this…I mean its not like they’ll have an intimate moment and Shirou will get all blushy and embarrassed…
But I’m mostly joshing. I am certain that in time it will reveal more stuff to support ShirouxRin, and things will go the way I assume they will. However, as soon as I say that…Shirou gets captured by Caster!
Here’s what we learn about Caster…she’s creepy and a creeper. The animators made sure we know this by showing every detail of her getting very touchy-feely with Shirou.
She really, really likes messing with out captive Shirou. As you can read, she wants his Command seals, which requires removing his Magic Circuits. Since Magic Circuits are like an extra set of nerves…I”m guessing this would hurt like a bitch….
…and I assumed correctly. And where is Saber, perchance? Well dealing with the OTHER servant guarding the temple. There’s a two-fer here.
Assassin is here to keep Saber from Shirou. Oh man…this is intense..how could they build up next episode any more???
With Archer coming in like a badass and stopping Caster, that’s how!!!!!
Well, this is escalating quickly. Looks like we’re in for a 4 servant brawl next episode, with all of the battles and awesomeness. I’m bursting with excitement and am all revved up for next week!
Archer was talking about wanting the Holy Grail for granting a personal wish. Even in Fate/Zero (SPOILER):
Lancer only wished for the chance to serve his master faithfully to redeem his honor (in his legend he slept with his master’s wife, sullying his honor, which was the whole point of the Sola Ui drama)
Archer-Simply believed Grail is already another treasure of his just like everything else inside Gate of Babylon, and others are trying to steal it from him.
Rider-May have wanted it, but was primarily interested in conquest through his own powers and getting to live in this new world experiencing new things
Caster-Probably did want the grail for meeting Jeanne but who knows considering his insanity level
Berserker-Just wanted to die by Saber’s hand
Assassin-no motivation given
Saber is genuinely motivated by her desire to fulfill a wish she couldn’t achieve in life, but most other Servants didn’t really have a stated wish they were fighting for. Not sure how much her wish was discussed in FZ though; it was the focus of the Fate route that the old DEEN anime adapted, and won’t really be mentioned in this new anime’s route.
“Here, Archer says most Heroic servants don’t choose to be called, but are forced to be summoned and work for Masters.”
It’s not contradictory. He is referring to when heroic spirits are summoned in general as guardians, when their will is taken away to serve for humanity’s greater good. It’s the Holy Grail War’s construction that makes the difference, as they regain their humanity as Servants, along with the wishes and regrets they had before they died. That is something Archer doesn’t possess and that is why unlike the other Servants, he has no interest in that wish-granting, malevolent treasure chest called the Holy Grail.
What should be mentioned is that Archer understands what Saber wants to do, if that wasn’t clear enough, since parts of his conversation with Shirou was cut. He calls her the ideal guardian, literally a slave, because she won’t use the Grail for herself. That is the actual reason why Shirou asks Saber again about the Grail, he wanted to confirm what Archer said and much to his chagrin, Archer was right.
I can see that, in the idea of them losing their true nature as people when becoming Heroic Spirits. The way it was presented, it seemed like Servants were just summoned for the Grail war whether they want to be or not, while in Fate/Zero it seemed to imply the spirit wanting to be summoned for one reason or another. Gilgamesh says in the anime he decided to respond to Tokiomi’s summon, rather than just being called there by force.
Yeah, from what was cut from the conversation, I didn’t see that. What it seemed to show was that Archer knew Saber wanted the Grail, and Shirou wondering about her wish. The idea of her being referred to as a slave to being a guardian makes the conversation after with Shirou and Saber make a lot more sense.
It would probably be best to think what Archer said is in-between the two ways that you know of and that were presented. Heroic spirits aren’t summoned solely for the Grail Wars, is what Archer implies. He is a pretty cynical guy in general and him viewing himself as a tool tells a lot about what he thinks of his existence as a heroic spirit in my opinion. He doesn’t like Rin’s decision to cooperate with Shirou, but he obeys because she is his Master. The nature of the heroic spirits, that are called mankind’s guardians, is a mystery that is eventually revealed in UBW, so look forward to it.
It’s quite an interesting mystery to see what Archer seems to know. He knows Servants want the Grail because of their regrets and wishes in their past lives, but that doesn’t interest him in the slightest. It’s also rather strange to call the Holy Grail a malevolent treasure chest. It’s said to be omnipotent, but he doesn’t have a wish, nor does he want to stay in the world incarnated and he stated that it would be the same case for Saber.
“It takes one to know one.” isn’t it? Or is it that obvious that Saber will selflessly use the Grail not for herself? Not surprising that they are the Servants of our protagonists, who solely participate to stop the other Masters from obtaining the Grail. If you are interested, the whole conversation is almost ten minutes long: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_gfXPbi23rs
*the truth about what Archer said is probably in-between…
[spoiler](First, if this is considered spoileriffic, can someone comment and let me know so I can remove it? thanks :>)
Archer is a Counter Guardian, is that really the same as Gil and the others?
The reason he can infiltrate the temple and save Shiro, while Saber has to fight Assassin is because Saber is a proper Heroic Spirit while Archer is a Counter Guardian right?
His descriptions of what Heroic Spirits do and are are based on his own experiences as a Counter Guardian.
I think I read on the wiki that since he is soo low ranked on the hero totem pole he gets summoned to do the dirty work, while Gilgamesh doesn’t have to do anything he doesn’t want to.
Besides, the real heroes themselves are never summoned, but rather clones are summoned to fight the grail war.
The real Gil is sitting in the Throne of Heroes, the Gil we know is a clone.
Which means.. once clone Gil gets a body of flesh, does that mean he could do something epic, die, and become a different hero version of Gil and also end up on the Throne of Heroes?
I mean, new body, new chance, right?
Or am I overthinking this? lol.
Also, doesn’t that mean that when the next grail war starts someone could try to summon Gil again, resulting in two Gils existing at the same time?
Hurmm.. food for thought..
I love Archer (white haired), he’s awesome and his voice is epic 😀
Things are about to get intense, and violent.
But Archer has like no magic resistance, he isn’t really a good match for Caster.
(Unless he actually uses his Archer abilities once in a while… psshhh… if you know what I mean cough rain down weapons like Gil would cough)
Saber, on the other hand, has very powerful innate magical resistance.
Archer + Saber vs. Caster would work.
Archer vs. Caster would not. (or so I presume, I hope I am wrong, because I am rooting for Archer)
Saber vs. Caster… let’s just say that this one doesn’t always turn out well, if you know what I mean..
We’ll have to see what happens next time 🙂 [/spoiler]
Well, except for Saber, Saber cannot dematerialize because she is not simply a clone. (well, that’s more or less the reason why)
She remembers the details of the prior Grail War because [spoiler]she is actually summoned from that point in her timeline before she died.
She is actually the real Saber. [/spoiler]
It’s interesting to note that if you were watching Fate Stay for the first time, you wouldn’t know who Saber was yet since they haven’t actually stated it.
When did we figure it out in the last one? early on right.. I’m sure.
Also, I can’t delete these comments or edit them apparently, so if a Moderator finds these to be too spoilerriffic, please modify them or delete them accordingly. Thanks 🙂